Post by Jax on Aug 7, 2018 12:21:39 GMT -6
By Jax West
If you have read my previous articles, you know my background on how I got involved in the whole ‘Making a Murderer’ saga. If you haven’t, stop now and go read them. I am quite interesting. LoL. Let’s pick up to where I am currently. I got involved in a worldwide peaceful rally that the people voted to call #WeStand4Innocence. A Facebook Group formed. You can check it out here:
www.facebook.com/groups/983304248404719/
The events kept multiplying. Here is the final flyer for the event:
I am running the Manitowoc event along with Megan Prather and Megan Anne. The Megans organized the last Manitowoc Courthouse protest that was in January. They were told at that time that no permit was needed and there weren’t any requirements like sign size, etc. But now when Megan Anne contacts the same person she talked to the last time things have changed.
She was told we have to have a permit to be on the Courthouse property. Last time they even got to go in the Courthouse as it was so cold. But now we need a permit. We wanted to do everything the correct way so Megan Anne got the information for the permit. She emailed it to me. I filled it out and faxed it in that day as it says that they have to have it 4 weeks prior to the event and we are just over that now. The permit did have stuff on there about insurance, etc but that doesn’t mean it was required for this.
I had previously organized 2 protests and started on a rally. The 2 I organized were when Wiegert and Fassbender were going to speak at a Law Enforcement Convention in Naperville, Illinois. I called the Naperville Police Department and asked about a permit. I was told I don’t need one. I just needed to stay on the sidewalk or parkway as that is public property. I have to keep moving. Can’t have anything vulgar on the signs or shirts. Can’t block anyone from going in the building or block traffic. I then asked if I should call them back if it was definitely happening and I was told they have never been asked that before and they would much appreciate if I would call them one hour prior to the event so they can make sure our rights were protected as well.
Then I was organizing one against Ken Kratz when he was going to bring his traveling circus to Rockford, Illinois. I called Rockford Police and was told I had to talk to the Village. The Village told me that I didn’t need a permit and then they told me all the same things I was told by Naperville. They also said the police would appreciate a heads up call if the event was happening.
Both of those events were cancelled. No one knows why for sure. Then I started off organizing this rally to be at Daley Plaza in Chicago. At first the location told me I needed to pay all this money for a permit. But once I explained to them what this was they said then they didn’t require that. At that time there was 1 rally scheduled for Madison, Wisconsin. Then another was decided for Manitowoc. I thought it was pointless to have 3 rallies so close together and that most people in the Chicago area would much prefer to go to the Manitowoc rally. So I cancelled the Chicago rally and jumped on board with the Megans for Manitowoc.
So I faxed the permit application to Manitowoc Public Works. Megan Anne sent them a money order, as that was what they said they needed, for $100 for the permit application. I asked Megan Anne a few days later to call her contact and make sure they got it and that nothing was missing. She was told they did get it and they would need an additional $250 for a security deposit, a Certificate of Insurance for a million dollar policy and there would be a charge for security and public works to clean up after the event. Um, what?
I called Manitowoc Public Works and was told the same things Megan Anne was told. I said then we would just stay on the public sidewalk and not have to get a permit. I was told the sidewalk isn’t public but is owned by the county. I took that as a subtle warning. She told me that our permit was being voted on that night and she would let me know the next day.
In the meantime we started looking into what the cost would be for the insurance policy. People from the Rally group wanted to start donating money for our permit. But the Megans and I really don’t want to put a ton of money in Manitowoc County’s pockets. We just don’t think this is right, especially considering the last rally didn’t require anything. They can’t say that that rally is the reason they are charging so much now as it was not a big turnout for many reasons. Someone sabotaged it by posting on Facebook that it was cancelled when it wasn’t. It was January in Wisconsin so really cold. And it was a weekday. At times there were more people there protesting the protestors than there were pro-Avery/ Dassey people. I wonder if the anti-Avery Dassey people are required to have a permit to be there?
So that brings me to today. Manitowoc Public Works called me and said our permit was approved but now we have 5 days to turn in a check for $250 for a refundable security deposit as long as we don’t do any damage and $1,560 that is NOT refundable that goes to the Manitowoc Sheriff’s Department to provide security for the event. Plus I have 2 weeks to get them a Certificate of Insurance for the million dollar policy. What the what?!?
I am sorry but there is no way we are paying Manitowoc County almost 2 grand for our constitutional right to peacefully assemble. The First Amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
According to Wikipedia:
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right or ability of people to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend their ideas.[1] The right to freedom of association is recognized as a human right, a political right and a civil liberty.
The terms freedom of assembly and freedom of association may be used to distinguish between the freedom to assemble in public places and the freedom to join an association. Freedom of assembly is often used in the context of the right to protest, while freedom of association is used in the context of labor rights and in the Constitution of the United States is interpreted to mean both the freedom to assemble and the freedom to join an association.[2][not in citation given]
The United States Constitution explicitly provides for 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances' in the First Amendment.
So no, we will not be getting a permit. We wanted to do this the nice way. We paid the $100. We would have paid the $250 security deposit. We were looking into the insurance and would pay the $150-200 for that. But we will not be paying $1,560 to the MCSD to do their job that the tax payers already pay them for. If this was required a couple months ago that would be different. But it wasn’t. So why is this one different?
I have reached out to the Wisconsin ACLU in 3 different ways; phone, website and their Facebook page. They called me back and said that the sidewalks ARE public. Someone will be getting back to me next week. We shall see where that goes.
I called Kathleen Zellner’s office and informed one of her clerks on what has happened so far. This is just outrageous in my opinion.
The rally will go on regardless. We will stay on the PUBLIC sidewalks. We will keep moving so they can’t say we are loitering. We do have some handicapped people attending who will need to sit on occasion so we shall see if they are arrested for that. We will be respectful. But we will be there. We will also be contacting the press and informing them of what has gone on so far. Hopefully we will have plenty of press there to document our peaceful rally to show that we aren’t being a nuisance on a Saturday in the summer that warrant anyone being arrested. But this is Manitowoc. They don’t have to have real reasons to arrest someone now do they? They have gotten away with it at least twice that we know of.
If you would like to attend our Rally we have a Facebook event for it here:
www.facebook.com/events/1710872892535370/
We are camping out nearby and have an event for that here:
www.facebook.com/events/1260847413944974/
There is also a Go Fund Me set up for donations for the Silent Auction we are doing at the campout but maybe it will be used as bail money. LoL
www.gofundme.com/2bmzg9r8
And we are selling Rally shirts as well as shirts for Brendan here:
freebrendan.org/index.php/category/apparel/
Also we have a petition for Brendan Dassey’s Law. One of the most heartbreaking things I took away from ‘Making a Murderer’ is when Brendan was cornered in that tiny room and forced to confess to rape and murder. No child should be interrogated without a lawyer present. I hope you will sign and share this petition:
www.change.org/p/please-pass-brendan-dassey-s-law-to-stop-juvenile-interrogations-without-a-lawyer-present
We hope that a lot of press will show up not only to shine a light on this injustice but also to be there to document anything the MCSD may try to do to anyone at the peaceful rally. Press can reach out to me at Jacalynn.West@gmail.com if you would like to make any arrangements to be there.
I hope to see you at our Manitowoc Rally. If you can’t make that one, find the one closest to you. #WeStand4Innocence.
Always remember, we all live on Avery Road. Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.
If you have read my previous articles, you know my background on how I got involved in the whole ‘Making a Murderer’ saga. If you haven’t, stop now and go read them. I am quite interesting. LoL. Let’s pick up to where I am currently. I got involved in a worldwide peaceful rally that the people voted to call #WeStand4Innocence. A Facebook Group formed. You can check it out here:
www.facebook.com/groups/983304248404719/
The events kept multiplying. Here is the final flyer for the event:
I am running the Manitowoc event along with Megan Prather and Megan Anne. The Megans organized the last Manitowoc Courthouse protest that was in January. They were told at that time that no permit was needed and there weren’t any requirements like sign size, etc. But now when Megan Anne contacts the same person she talked to the last time things have changed.
She was told we have to have a permit to be on the Courthouse property. Last time they even got to go in the Courthouse as it was so cold. But now we need a permit. We wanted to do everything the correct way so Megan Anne got the information for the permit. She emailed it to me. I filled it out and faxed it in that day as it says that they have to have it 4 weeks prior to the event and we are just over that now. The permit did have stuff on there about insurance, etc but that doesn’t mean it was required for this.
I had previously organized 2 protests and started on a rally. The 2 I organized were when Wiegert and Fassbender were going to speak at a Law Enforcement Convention in Naperville, Illinois. I called the Naperville Police Department and asked about a permit. I was told I don’t need one. I just needed to stay on the sidewalk or parkway as that is public property. I have to keep moving. Can’t have anything vulgar on the signs or shirts. Can’t block anyone from going in the building or block traffic. I then asked if I should call them back if it was definitely happening and I was told they have never been asked that before and they would much appreciate if I would call them one hour prior to the event so they can make sure our rights were protected as well.
Then I was organizing one against Ken Kratz when he was going to bring his traveling circus to Rockford, Illinois. I called Rockford Police and was told I had to talk to the Village. The Village told me that I didn’t need a permit and then they told me all the same things I was told by Naperville. They also said the police would appreciate a heads up call if the event was happening.
Both of those events were cancelled. No one knows why for sure. Then I started off organizing this rally to be at Daley Plaza in Chicago. At first the location told me I needed to pay all this money for a permit. But once I explained to them what this was they said then they didn’t require that. At that time there was 1 rally scheduled for Madison, Wisconsin. Then another was decided for Manitowoc. I thought it was pointless to have 3 rallies so close together and that most people in the Chicago area would much prefer to go to the Manitowoc rally. So I cancelled the Chicago rally and jumped on board with the Megans for Manitowoc.
So I faxed the permit application to Manitowoc Public Works. Megan Anne sent them a money order, as that was what they said they needed, for $100 for the permit application. I asked Megan Anne a few days later to call her contact and make sure they got it and that nothing was missing. She was told they did get it and they would need an additional $250 for a security deposit, a Certificate of Insurance for a million dollar policy and there would be a charge for security and public works to clean up after the event. Um, what?
I called Manitowoc Public Works and was told the same things Megan Anne was told. I said then we would just stay on the public sidewalk and not have to get a permit. I was told the sidewalk isn’t public but is owned by the county. I took that as a subtle warning. She told me that our permit was being voted on that night and she would let me know the next day.
In the meantime we started looking into what the cost would be for the insurance policy. People from the Rally group wanted to start donating money for our permit. But the Megans and I really don’t want to put a ton of money in Manitowoc County’s pockets. We just don’t think this is right, especially considering the last rally didn’t require anything. They can’t say that that rally is the reason they are charging so much now as it was not a big turnout for many reasons. Someone sabotaged it by posting on Facebook that it was cancelled when it wasn’t. It was January in Wisconsin so really cold. And it was a weekday. At times there were more people there protesting the protestors than there were pro-Avery/ Dassey people. I wonder if the anti-Avery Dassey people are required to have a permit to be there?
So that brings me to today. Manitowoc Public Works called me and said our permit was approved but now we have 5 days to turn in a check for $250 for a refundable security deposit as long as we don’t do any damage and $1,560 that is NOT refundable that goes to the Manitowoc Sheriff’s Department to provide security for the event. Plus I have 2 weeks to get them a Certificate of Insurance for the million dollar policy. What the what?!?
I am sorry but there is no way we are paying Manitowoc County almost 2 grand for our constitutional right to peacefully assemble. The First Amendment states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
According to Wikipedia:
Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right or ability of people to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend their ideas.[1] The right to freedom of association is recognized as a human right, a political right and a civil liberty.
The terms freedom of assembly and freedom of association may be used to distinguish between the freedom to assemble in public places and the freedom to join an association. Freedom of assembly is often used in the context of the right to protest, while freedom of association is used in the context of labor rights and in the Constitution of the United States is interpreted to mean both the freedom to assemble and the freedom to join an association.[2][not in citation given]
The United States Constitution explicitly provides for 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances' in the First Amendment.
So no, we will not be getting a permit. We wanted to do this the nice way. We paid the $100. We would have paid the $250 security deposit. We were looking into the insurance and would pay the $150-200 for that. But we will not be paying $1,560 to the MCSD to do their job that the tax payers already pay them for. If this was required a couple months ago that would be different. But it wasn’t. So why is this one different?
I have reached out to the Wisconsin ACLU in 3 different ways; phone, website and their Facebook page. They called me back and said that the sidewalks ARE public. Someone will be getting back to me next week. We shall see where that goes.
I called Kathleen Zellner’s office and informed one of her clerks on what has happened so far. This is just outrageous in my opinion.
The rally will go on regardless. We will stay on the PUBLIC sidewalks. We will keep moving so they can’t say we are loitering. We do have some handicapped people attending who will need to sit on occasion so we shall see if they are arrested for that. We will be respectful. But we will be there. We will also be contacting the press and informing them of what has gone on so far. Hopefully we will have plenty of press there to document our peaceful rally to show that we aren’t being a nuisance on a Saturday in the summer that warrant anyone being arrested. But this is Manitowoc. They don’t have to have real reasons to arrest someone now do they? They have gotten away with it at least twice that we know of.
If you would like to attend our Rally we have a Facebook event for it here:
www.facebook.com/events/1710872892535370/
We are camping out nearby and have an event for that here:
www.facebook.com/events/1260847413944974/
There is also a Go Fund Me set up for donations for the Silent Auction we are doing at the campout but maybe it will be used as bail money. LoL
www.gofundme.com/2bmzg9r8
And we are selling Rally shirts as well as shirts for Brendan here:
freebrendan.org/index.php/category/apparel/
Also we have a petition for Brendan Dassey’s Law. One of the most heartbreaking things I took away from ‘Making a Murderer’ is when Brendan was cornered in that tiny room and forced to confess to rape and murder. No child should be interrogated without a lawyer present. I hope you will sign and share this petition:
www.change.org/p/please-pass-brendan-dassey-s-law-to-stop-juvenile-interrogations-without-a-lawyer-present
We hope that a lot of press will show up not only to shine a light on this injustice but also to be there to document anything the MCSD may try to do to anyone at the peaceful rally. Press can reach out to me at Jacalynn.West@gmail.com if you would like to make any arrangements to be there.
I hope to see you at our Manitowoc Rally. If you can’t make that one, find the one closest to you. #WeStand4Innocence.
Always remember, we all live on Avery Road. Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.